Teacher helps kids explore Judaism through arts
By GRETEL SARMIENTO
Palm Beach Post
Thursday, October 02, 2008
When Hindel Levitin tells parents "I've got the kids," she is not about to ask for a ransom.
She's about to captivate their children with songs and games for a full hour.
Her music program called Jewish Music for Kids and Moms has been running for the past two years at the Chabad Jewish Center at 205 Royal Palm Way in Palm Beach.
It's designed for children attending non-Jewish schools who might not be getting much of a Jewish education.
Levitin, 26, teaches 22 children, who are divided into four age groups.
Children can join the program anytime.
She likes to describe the class environment as non-intimidating and ideal for parents who don't want to drive too far for their children to get the basics of Judaism.
"Not everyone is comfortable attending a Torah lecture, a course or a religious study," she said. Levitin engages the children in coloring, singing and role play using costumes and props.
Through these activities they become familiar with the Hebrew vocabulary, the Torah and Jewish holidays, such as Passover and Shabbat.
They learn simple words as well as profound ones, such as delet, which means door, and neshama, soul.
"Nothing overly fancy," Levitin is the first one to say of her program.
She is the mother of two little girls and the wife - or rebbetzin - of Rabbi Zalman Levitin.
Levitin has been studying music since she was 7. Before moving to Florida, she conducted a similar music program for special needs children and teens in Connecticut and also directed dramatic plays and taught music at schools in New York.
The family moved from New York in 2006.
After two years of success, Levitin is now adding a new class to her program geared toward special-needs children with physical or learning disabilities.
Levitin will lead this class with a behavioral therapist.
"These kids are not able to do many things but they can't fail at music class. Music is a big interest for them," she said. "Music is the best way to reach them.